Shipping-coop.



No. 826,324. PATENTBD JULY 17, 1906.

H. B. s. T. BJFRY.

SHIPPING COOP.

APPLICATION FILED nwe. 190s.

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PATENTED JULY 17, 1906. H. B. n T. B. PRY.

SHIPPING GGOP. APPLIUATION FILED 1320.6, 1905.

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,3j Je? NITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

HUGH BAILS FRY AND TOY BAILS FRY` OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE,

ASSIGNORS OF THREE-EIGHTHS TO BEN T. CARY AND ONE-EIGHTH TO HARRY G. FERREE, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

i SHIPPING-COOP.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, HUGH BArLs FRY and TOY BAILs FRY, citizens of the United States, and residents of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Shipping-Coop, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to shipping coops or crates such as are used for transporting live fowls.

The object of the invention is to produce a coop of this kind which is simple in construction and which is sanitary and which is capable of being folded up compactly for return shipment.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the coop, the

cover thereof being represented as beingpartly removed, so as to add to the clearness of the drawings. Fig. 2 is a plan showing a coop in its folded condition, the cover being represented as removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the coop in its open or raised relation. This view is taken in substantially the middle plane or center of the' coop. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but taken at a point not on the center line. Fig. 5 isa cross-section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and showing the parts in their folded relation, and Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 and upon an enlarged scale.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the bottom of the coop, which is preferably constructed of wood or similar material. At the edges of this bottom a continuous sill 2 is attached, the same bein preferably composed of wood and former? with longitudinal openings or slots 3, which facilitate the cleaning of the bottom, as will be readily understood. The coop may have the elongated octagonal form shown in Fig. 2, the sill 2 being formed in sections or bars 4, whose extremities meet at the rabbeted edges or joints 5. As shown most clearly in Figs. 3

to 5, the outer side of the sill 2 is preferably rounded,while the inner face 6 extends vertically upward to meet the upperface. This inner face 6 is provided with transverse slots or recesses 7, which do not extend entirely through the sill, as indicated, and in these slots or recesses we attach a plurality of upwardly-extending bars 8, which form the side walls of the coop, the same being secured by means of transverse pivots or pins 9. These kbars 8 are preferably double, as indicated in Fig. 2, the two members or forks of each bar being connected above by transverse or cross bars 10.

The coop comprises a depressible frame 1 1, which is of smaller dimensions than the sill 2, referred toabove, s'o that the said frame may be depressed to the bottom of the coop, as indicated in Fig. 5. This frame has the same general shape as the. bottom and is vbound at its outer edge with a metal binding-strip 12, said binding-strip being extended above the upper face of the frame, so as to form a bead 13. As shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower side of this bead is disposed a short distance above the upper face of the frame, and at this point the binding-strip is provided with a plurality of openings 14, through which the aforesaid bars 8 pass, as will be readily understood. From this arrangement it will be understood that when the coop is opened up or raised, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the cross-bars 10 of the bars 8 will lie upon the upper face of the frame 11 just behind the bead 13. The bodies of the bars will then dispose themselves in a slightly-inclined relation and they will pass directly over the face of the frame 11, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1. In order to maintain the coop in its raised position, we provide a plurality of releasable braces or fastenings 15. These are preferably four in number, as indicated. They consist of metal strips bent to substantially the form shown, so as to form eyes 16 at their lower extremities, which are pivoted on pins 17 in the sill 2 in a manner very similar to the manner in which the bars 8 are attached. These braces comprise substantially straight bodies which extend upwardly, and from their inner faces integral tongues 18 extend inwardly, said tongues being resilient and tending to press themselves inwardly IOO and away from the bodies of the braces, as will be readily understood. The upper eX- tremities of these tongues 18 are offset outwardly, so as to produce shoulders 19, which project inwardly, and the upper extremities or tips 20 of the tongues lie near the upper extremities of the bodies of the braces, as shown. These tips 20 and the upper eX- tremities of the bodies of the braces pass through recesses 21, which are formed in the outer edge of the frame 11, and project upwardly behind the bead 13, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. When it is desired to fold up the coop-as,for instance,when it is to be reshipped-the tips 20 of the tongues 18 will be pressed outwardly, so as to release the frame 18 from the shoulders 19. The frame 11 is then pushed downwardly, so that it descends along the bodies of the bars 8. As it does so the bars 8, together with the braces 15, rotate inwardly on their pivot-pins and project themselves horizontally across the bottom of the coop, as indicated in Fig. 2. In raising the coop the operation just described is simply reversed. In order to facilitate the raising of the coop as suggested, we provide the coop at suitable points with handles or bails 22, which are pivotally attached to the bead 13, as will be readily understood. In Fig. 5 the coop is shown in its folded relation, and in Fig. 6 parts are shown in section near one edge of the coop, upon an enlarged` scale, showing clearly the arrangement of the parts when the coop is folded or closed.

The coop is provided with a suitable cover 23, which is attached in the opening of the frame 11, so as to prevent the escape of the fowls at this part. This frame may be pro vided with suitable doors adapted to be opened to allow the fowls to be placed in the coop or removed. In order to assist in supporting the cover, we provide transverse bars in ractic-e which pass across the frame 11, as wi be readily understood.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A folding coop, comprising a bottom, side walls consisting of a plurality of bars pivotally attached at said bottom, and adapted to fold downwardly upon the upper side thereof, a depressible frame having a sliding connection with said bars, and means for supporting said frame in an. elevated position.

2. A folding coop, comprising a bottom, a plurality of walls composed of a plurality of bars pivotally attached at said bottom and adapted to fold downwardly thereupon, with the bars of one wall overlapping the bars of the adjacent walls, a depressible frame having a sliding connection with said bars, braces pivoted near said bottom, and affording means for supporting said frame in an ele vated position.

3. A folding coop, having a bottom with a sill formed around the edge thereof, said sill having recesses in the inner face thereof, a plurality of bars ,pivotally mounted respectively in said recesses, and extending upwardly, a depressible frame having a sliding connection with said bars, braces pivotally attached to said sill and having resilient tongues with shoulders formed therein, engaging said frame to support the same in an elevated position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUGH BAILS FRY. TOY BAILS FRY.

Witnesses:

KATE BUTTENBERG, HENRY JEYER. 

